British actor Jonathan Bailey named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive
‘Wicked’ and ‘Bridgerton’ star Jonathan Bailey has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. He is the first openly gay man to win the title.
People love him as People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
“Wicked” star Jonathan Bailey joins the roster of A-list stars who have earned coveted nicknames. He was also the first openly gay man.
Bailey’s recognition comes in commemoration of the magazine’s 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Honor, which was started by Oscar winner Mel Gibson in 1985.
It didn’t take long for the news about Bailey, announced on “The Tonight Show,” to spread on social media, with die-hard Bridgerton fans and members of the LGBTQ+ community sharing their reactions, saying they were elated but not surprised.
“It’s the honor of a lifetime,” the 37-year-old told “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon. “Jimmy, I just want to say thank you so much for saying no to come here.”
Bailey, who rose to prominence as Anthony Bridgerton, has recently starred as the clueless but cute Prince Fiyero in the Wicked series and as Tim Laughlin in The Fellow Travellers.
Let’s see how fans reacted to this news.
‘Pop Culture Milestone’: GLAAD celebrates people’s choices
GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, called the selection a “pop culture milestone” that reflects “how far LGBTQ visibility has come in Hollywood.”
“For decades, LGBTQ actors have been excluded from the conversation surrounding leading roles and blockbuster movie franchises,” Anthony Allen Ramos, vice president of communications and talent at GLAAD, said in a statement.
Allen Ramos added, “Seeing an openly gay actor star in one of the most successful films of recent times and praised by People magazine like this sends a powerful message to the industry that audiences around the world know that authenticity is appealing.”
Social media is elated but not surprised
Since the news was announced on Monday, Nov. 3, Bayley’s fans and Wicked co-stars, including Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, have sent flowers to the Jurassic World Resurrection star on social media.
The entire “Wicked” staff “came together” to show Bayley some love by wearing T-shirts featuring images from Bayley’s “Sexy Man” cover shoot.
Bailey’s fans followed suit, with some noting the significance of him being the first openly gay man to appear on the cover of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue.
One X user wrote: “It’s actually pretty special and sweet that in the big year of 2025, Jonathan Bailey is the first openly gay man to be named the sexiest man alive… In this political climate, things like this keep me up.”
See how some fans reacted to this news.
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